Slamming my office door shut, I link everyone to not disturb me while making my way towards my desk and collapsing into the soft leather chair. So much has happened in the last two weeks that I feel like Crescent Phoenix is slipping out of my control as Alpha, and now with this attack just at the borders of my Pack, it feels like the world will crumble down on top of me.
I knew that leading a Pack would be a lot of work. Knew that my bastard of a younger brother would feel inferior when he learned I am an Alpha, a wolf on equal footing to that misogynistic power-hungry bastard. I never thought he would let his hatred and views on women cloud his mind so much that he would attack innocent pups to satisfy his ego and pride.
What’s worse is knowing that Brynlee and Rune are planning to leave the safe home I have tried so hard to build for them to take down Valor and bring peace to everyone. I know for a fact Jonnah is too busy with the news of his heir coming from reading the reports Alastor sent me, but how long will his attention be diverted before he decides to take revenge on my pups for them killing Valor, Tanya, and their unborn pup.
“Love.” Looking up at the sound of Gale’s voice, I watch my Mate slowly close the door and walk towards me. I push off the chair and rush into his arms, letting his scent and warmth wrap around me as I finally cry out all the pent-up anger, frustration, and fear that has been building inside me, thankful that my office is soundproof.
“Shhhh, darling. Everything will be all right in the end.” Gale coos to me, rubbing my back. I just cry. Cry for the pain my Pack will face soon. Cry for the fact I feel useless right now and could not stop enemies from sneaking into my borders, cry for the fear of losing Brynlee and Rune to a war my brother caused due to his own ego. I cry and cry and cry until I can no longer cry and am left shakily breathing in Gale’s scent, my Mate just holding me lovingly and peppering kisses atop my head.
“Feel better?” He asks when I have calmed down.
“A little.” I admit, wiping away the remaining wetness on my face with my sleeves. Gale hums, tucking my head under his chin. Somehow we have ended up on the sofa in my office with me curled in Gale’s lap.
“Want to talk about it?” He asks. I mull over the question not sure if I want to right now. So much has happened since Brynlee was kidnapped. My worry for her has grown and somewhere along the line I stopped thinking of her as my goddaughter but as my actual daughter. She is such a bright young woman and to be put through so much pain in just over a year after losing her parents, my best friends, breaks my heart.
I love Rune, he is my nephew and I will always see him as such, but Brynlee is the little girl I looked after long before I became a mother myself. Her parents left her in our care and watching her put herself front line and center in all this mess kills me inside.
“I am worried about them, about Brynlee.” I finally admit. With the floodgates open, I tell Gale about my fears and worries. About how I don’t want to see her leave now that she has been given a chance to be herself outside of that oppressive environment that Pine Moon suffocated all she-wolves with. Gale is silent through all this, letting me rant and get the frustrations and thoughts off my mind until silence once again settles over the room.
“Brynlee isn’t being herself here.” Gale finally says with a sigh, catching me off guard.
“Yes, she was trained to take the Beta role, expected it since she was a pup.” He continues, leaning his head against the back of the couch and smiling softly.
“But the Goddess chose her to be fated to Rune, to become a leader of a Pack with him. Her taking back Pine Moon with Rune is what she is meant to do and all we can do is support her and be there for her.” Silence settles once more. I want to argue with him. State that Brynlee belongs here with us. But deep down I know my Mate is right. Brynlee was chosen to be a leader, not someone who takes orders from another wolf.
“So what do we do now? Everything feels like it is slipping out of my control and I am trying to keep a brave front for the Pack, for our pups.” I ask, resting my head against Gale’s chest and listening to his steady heartbeat.
“We keep doing what we are doing. We call Alastor and explain the situation we just had and explain to him that in seven days, we will be leaving to kill Valor and Tanya and take Pine Moon back.” Gale answers, holding me tighter to him.
“I guess I will make a call to our Council Representative then.” I sigh out, climbing from Gale’s lap and moving to sit at my desk. Gale follows, taking a seat across from me as I pick up my office phone and dial the number to Alastor. Placing the call on speaker, I listen for the dial tone until the familiar click of someone answering picks up.
“You’ve reached Council Member Alastor; may I know who is calling?” Come’s Alastor’s greeting.
“Hi Alastor, it’s Asteria. We have had an update on our situation with Pine Moon.” I answer, watching Gale smile at me reassuringly.
“Asteria, hi. Has your plans to take back Pine Moon changed?” Alastor asks, sounding more alert.
“It has.” I answer. I then proceed to recount the events of today and including that we learned Valor and his allies have moved their ambush day closer. Alastor curses, furious to know that Valor is still not abiding by the rules set forth by the council. He should have declared his intentions to the council weeks ago. Should have stated a reason why he wanted to go to war with Crescent Phoenix, and the Council would have looked over his declaration. If they approved of it, they would not interfere. We would not have been warned and Valor would have attacked us without any worry.
If we hadn’t gotten lucky learning Devlyn was a spy sent by him, the Council and I would not have known about the attack so early. We would not have been able to plan and train our wolves at all. Valor is sloppy, thinking he is above the law, and this will be his downfall.
“Do you know if Blood Claws is helping him yet?” Gale chimes in once Alastor has accepted our change in plans, wishing us good luck. The line grows silent after Gale’s question before Alastor lets out a sigh.
“As far as our reconnaissance team knows, no. Jonnah Cross is not involved with his daughter and son-in-law’s plans.” He answers, relief washing through me. If Jonnah Cross was part of Valor’s allied forces, that would leave us in a difficult position.
“What I can tell you though is that the Council is keeping an eye on him and gathering more evidence to take him down. You guys focus on your battle ahead and put thoughts of Blood Claws aside for now.” Alastor states. I look at Gale, a smile on my face, and see him smiling back at me. It seems we won’t have to worry about Blood Claws after all. Brynlee and Rune can take out Valor and Tanya without any worries and focus on taking control of Pine Moon and restructuring it once all this fighting is over.
“Anyways, I have work to finish. If you need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to call me.” With that, Alastor bids his farewell, and the call ends. Gale places the phone back on the receiver before reaching across the desk and taking my hands in his.
“Everything is going to be fine, love.” He says, his eyes full of excitement.
“Now, Rune has linked me during our call saying our intruders are awake and a very pissed-off Brynlee is ready to rip them to shreds. Why don’t we meet our pups and help interrogate these intruders of ours.” I smile, agreeing instantly with my Mate. I want to know why these wolves thought sneaking into my Pack and attacking my members.